KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez was selected by the New England Patriots with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Thursday night.

Gonzalez becomes just the fourth Oregon defensive back ever to be taken in the first round, joining Alex Molden (No. 11, 1996), Mario Clark (No. 18, 1976) and Jim Smith (No. 12, 1968). He is the ninth defensive first-round pick in program history, and second in a row after Kayvon Thibodeaux went No. 5 overall in 2022.

Oregon now has 21 total first-round picks, including nine since 2013 and 12 since 2000. Four of UO’s nine defensive first-round selections have come since 2015.

Gonzalez was the first Pac-12 player taken in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is the fourth Duck ever to be selected by the Patriots, and first since Patrick Chung in 2009.

An all-Pac-12 first-team selection, Gonzalez started all 12 regular-season games in his lone season with the Ducks. He led Oregon with four interceptions, third-most in the Pac-12, and finished with 50 total tackles and one tackle for loss. Two of Gonzalez’s four picks came in a road win against his former school, Colorado, and his 118 interception return yards on the season were the most by a Duck since Steve Smith in 2001.

Gonzalez tied for sixth in the Pac-12 with 11 passes defended, and tied for ninth with seven passes broken up. His 81.2 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus was best among all Ducks and fourth among Pac-12 cornerbacks, and his 81.4 coverage grade also ranked fourth in the Pac-12 at his position.

Via goducks.com